Page 10 of Just My Luck

“Nope. Unless you have a twin?”

“Ha. No twin. The world couldn’t handle that,” she smirked.

“I’m sure your parents would have–” My words came to an abrupt halt when Elaina’s face fell to sadness. My words had struck a nerve with her. And, I had a feeling I knew why.

“I’m so sorry, Elaina,” I whispered.

“It’s okay,” she smiled. “They’ve been gone a while.”

“Still, I’m very sorry. It was thoughtless of me to assume–”

Elaina placed her hand on my shoulder. She smiled brightly.

“None of that. It’s a celebration. Or so Mallory keeps reminding me,” she laughed. “Today is a day for new St. Patrick’s Day memories to replace the bad ones.”

Her parents died on St. Patrick’s Day? Was that what she was saying? No wonder she never accepted any of Mallory’s invites to my party. This was a day of grief, not celebration.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ELAINA

“I didn’t mean to ruin the mood,” I sighed. “It’s okay if you want to go socialize with the rest of your guests. I’ll be okay here.”

“What?” he gasped and shook his head. “Not a chance. They’ll survive a night without me.”

“What?” I managed to ask through a hushed breath.

“I’m not leaving you, Elaina,” he smiled. “We’re going to make this the best St. Patrick’s Day you’ve ever had.”

If it was possible, time would have stopped right then. His words made my heart skip a beat and stole my breath away. They were words right out of a fairytale. Stuff like this didn’t happen in real life. Incredibly attractive men didn’t show up and offer to take all the worries away, yet, here Maxwell was, offering to make this the best St. Patrick’s Day.

“But… Why?” I was trying to hold back the floodgates.

My emotions suddenly felt too much to handle. St. Patrick’s Day. My parents’ deaths. The pub. The loud music. Maxwell’s presence. His kindness. All of it was racing through my mind.

He stroked my cheek lightly with his thumb.

“Because I want to,” he smiled then dropped his hand down to his lap. “Want a water or a soda?”

“You aren’t drinking anymore?” My eyebrow rose. He laughed and shook his head.

“Memories aren’t any fun if you don’t remember them.”

Maybe he meant his words to sound flirty or maybe he didn’t. It didn’t matter because the sadness I was feeling moments ago left me. The emotion was replaced with an incredible lustful need for Maxwell. So many impure, shameless thoughts raced through my mind.

“Two bottles of water,” Maxwell said, holding up two fingers to the waitress walking by. She nodded her head and scurried off. “Sorry. Did you want soda?”

“Water is fine,” I smiled and leaned back in my seat.

“Long day?”

“Every day is,” I laughed.

“You have a busy job?”

“I own Goodwell Luxury Homes Real Estate.”

“You do?”

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